The ManicaPost
POLICE in Manicaland’s two districts of Mutare Central and Rural have issued temporary prohibition orders that bar members of the public from carrying dangerous weapons in public.
The Officer Commanding Mutare Central District, Chief Superintendent Plaxedes Phuthi and her Mutare Rural counterpart, Chief Superintendent Amon Ndou issued the orders this week.
This follows an increase in cases of assaults and robberies which involves the use of traditional weapons such as machetes, catapults, knobkerries and machetes.
“In terms of Section 14 (1) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Chapter 11:17: Chief Superintendent Plaxedes Phuthi being the Officer Commanding Police in Mutare Central District and therefore the regulating authority of the area, believe on reasonable grounds that the carrying in public whether openly or by concealment in a public place or public thoroughfare or public display of any of the following weapons or items capable of use as weapons: (a) machetes, catapults, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers, (b) any traditional weapon whatsoever which is likely to cause public disorder or breach of peace, hereby issue an order prohibiting the carrying of such weapons in the area whose boundary starts from Fern Valley, Gimboki, Feruka, Christmas Pass, Cecil Kopje, Zimbabwe-Mozambique Border, Forbes Border Post, Prince of Wales and the whole of Mutare City or any part thereof for a period not exceeding three months that is from Monday, March 28, 2017 to Wednesday, June 28, 2017.
“All perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted without fear or favour, so forewarned is forearmed,” reads the statement.
Areas cited by Mutare Rural where the prohibition order is being enforced include the area bounded by Save River in the south west, Singwizi River in the west, Odzi River in the north, border with Mozambique in the east and Murare River in the south.
The Mutare Rural District order is with effect from April 1, 2017 to June 1, 2017.
